In a distressing case, a 15-year-old boy has been handed a five-year prison sentence for the rape of a seven-year-old girl in Gokwe. The incident occurred as the young girl was making her way home from school alone, and the accused, also a minor, approached her.
Regional magistrate Mr. Lungile Ncube, presiding over the case, recognized the severity of the crime and the lasting impact it would have on the innocent victim. The court withheld the names of both individuals involved to protect their identities.
The prosecution, led by Mrs. Melissa Makombe-Shava, outlined the details of the incident. The seven-year-old victim, who attends an Early Childhood Development (ECD) A program at a primary school in Gokwe South District, encountered the accused on her way home. The accused, who is not attending school, crossed paths with the young girl and proceeded to carry her into a nearby bush.
According to Mrs. Makombe-Shava, after the assault, the perpetrator fled the scene, leaving the traumatized child behind. Upon reaching her home, the girl bravely disclosed the horrifying experience to her mother, who immediately reported the matter to the police. Subsequently, the accused was apprehended and taken into custody.
Taking into account the aggravating circumstances and the long-lasting impact on the young victim, Magistrate Ncube handed down a five-year prison sentence to the teenage perpetrator.
